Police Log: Speeding Vehicle Lands Atop Wall, Doorbell Pranksters Interrupted and Other Stories

The news described in Westwood Minute's weekly Police Log article series is primarily based on selected incidents from the Westwood Police Department's daily log, and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff through written records and conversations. Occasionally, Westwood Minute may weave a few facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.

Saturday, November 30th

Disturbance in the Early Morning

1:35 a.m. A residence abutting Hogan Tire, a business on Washington Street, reported people shouting in the parking lot at the early morning hour. Police arrived and the parties cleared the scene.

Speeding Land Rover Lands Atop Rock Wall

3:30 p.m. Police responded to a one-car accident at the intersection of Summer Street and Far Reach Road, involving a car striking and damaging a rock wall. Police found a heavily damaged Land Rover at the scene, which was registered to a resident of Chestnut Hill, and which was being driven by a 17 year-old. 

The juvenile driver reported that while attempting a turn from Far Reach Road onto Summer Street, the vehicle’s wheels locked, causing him to drive off the road, onto a rock wall.

All of several witnesses told police that the Land Rover was traveling very fast before the accident. One witness reported that the car was airborne before it ended up on the wall. Police cited the youth with negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Friday, November 29th

Investigating a Knife-Wielding, Barricaded Suspect

11:32 a.m. A Westwood Police officer responded to a call for mutual aid in Dover, where a suspect was wielding a knife at a residence. The officer provided investigative services for about 3.5 hours, until the incident concluded. No one was injured.

Shoplifting Suspect Flees

1:45 p.m. Police responded to a call from the Target store on University Avenue, on the report that a suspected shoplifter was fleeing. The suspect was described as a male wearing a grey coat and grey hat. Police searched the parking lot, but did not find the suspect.

Store staff informed police that the suspect was believed to have stolen from the store previously on November 22nd. Store staff confronted him when he returned on November 29th. He was reportedly attempting to push a cart out the door with unpaid items. He fled, taking a Target bag with two black boxes. The cart that was left behind contained five Pokémon trading card boxes and related trading card merchandise, worth a total of $10.

Woman Who is Suspected of Shoplifting 13 Times This Year is Trespassed from Store

6:23 p.m. Police were dispatched on a report of shoplifting at the Target store on University Avenue. The suspect was believed to be a repeat offender in shoplifting incidents 13 other times this year. 

On this occasion, store staff confronted her after observing her in the self-checkout area and scanning most items but leaving a black coat and kitchen appliance – worth $100 in total – unscanned. 

Police met with asset protection staff and the suspect in the store’s office. The suspect claimed not to have identification and gave a false identity and date of birth. After further questioning, she provided a true name and identification. She is a 54 year old woman from Dorchester. She was issued a trespass notice with plans to be summoned to court for shoplifting.

Thursday, November 28th

Breaking and Entering on Porter Street

3:57 p.m. A homeowner on Porter Street met with police to report a breaking and entering. Two windows with access to the home’s basement were broken, and a window screen was ripped. Broken glass was found on the inside of the residence. It appears that someone may have entered the home, but nothing was determined to be missing. The resident was unsure when the incident may have occurred, but remembered that the windows were intact a few days ago.

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Suspicious Thanksgiving Guest

10:50 p.m. Police responded to a residence on Ellis Street on the report of suspicious behavior by a Thanksgiving guest. The homeowner had invited a guest to Thanksgiving, and the suspect had tagged along with the invited guest. The homeowner did not know the suspect. 

While in the home, the suspect reportedly wandered throughout the house for about 90 minutes, venturing into areas that were not intended for guests. The suspect presented appearances of being engrossed in a 90 minute phone call. The suspect was asked to leave. The homeowner was making a police report in case there should be further incidents.

Wednesday, November 27th

Bicycle Stolen from Front Yard of Windsor Road Residence

11:17 a.m. Police received a report of a bike being stolen from Windsor Road. The complainant described his son’s missing bicycle as a blue, Trek youth bike with a 20-inch frame. It was taken from the front yard of the residence on November 25th between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Doorbell Pranksters Interrupted

8:57 p.m. A resident of Alder Road reported observing, on a doorbell camera, an individual standing in the resident’s front yard when the resident was not at home. Police responded and found four juvenile males, aged 15 and 16, who live in the area. As police investigated, a neighbor approached to inform police that the four youth had rung the neighbor’s doorbell and then ran away. The parents of the four boys were contacted and informed of the situation, and the youth were sent on their way, walking home.

Tuesday, November 26th

Request to Destroy Old Ammunition

9:42 a.m. An officer collected an old box of ammunition and a gun cleaning kit from a resident of Highland Glen who wanted it destroyed.

Suspects Accused of Stealing over $1,000 in Groceries in Just One Incident

3:30 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue on the report from store employees that two suspects were currently inside the store who were believed to have been involved in thefts on two previous occasions.

Store staff believe that on November 11th, the pair took about $250 consisting of food. Items stolen were fruit, beer, wine, margarita mix, eight hams, five lobster tails, two crab legs, assorted mini tarts, and an entire red snapper.

On November 25th, the same pair are believed to have taken items from the store worth a total of over $1,000. Items stolen were sirloin steak, ten bottles of champagne and wine, additional alcohol, pomegranates, a cake, lobster tail, cheese, and prosciutto.

On November 26th, police located the suspects in the store, and they were issued no trespass notices and advised not to set foot in any Wegmans location for two years. 

Police arrested the suspects, charging each suspect with shoplifting over $250 of merchandise by asportation. The suspects are described as 49 year-old  and 42 year-old males, both from Quincy.

Monday, November 25th

Package Goes Missing after Delivery to Ford Place Residence

3:58 p.m. An officer spoke to a resident of Ford Place who reported a missing package. The package had been delivered on the prior evening around 8:25 p.m. when the resident was not at home. When the resident returned home around 10:00 p.m., the package was nowhere in sight. It contained clothing worth about $75.

Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.

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